Day 8 : Lines : PHOTO

I really appreciate the look and feel of electrical infrastructure equipment.

Free Game Friday | TRIHAYWBFRFYH

  

You have 20 minutes till the world ends. 

     While it has one of the longer names I've heard of (hence the abbreviation) this game is definitely an incredibly unique experience. "The Rapture is Here and You Will Be Forcibly Removed From Your Home" was developed by Connor Sherlock and is inspired by the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, you have a limited amount of time to explore the rolling plans and soft woods of this world.  An ominous massive shape fills the sky and you can see it slowly approaching. Pillars of lights guide you through different narrations presenting Lovecraft's stories. And as time runs out, lightning flashes and pillars and daggers appear piercing outward from the ground reaching up to the skies. And honestly I found this game quite amazing.

"Lovecraft's stories hinge on trying to describe encountering something fundamentally unknowable to human beings," Sherlock told Polygon. "Awe, loneliness and wonder are as important as horror for this. 

   

      The way you play this game is very open, do you run from light to light, trying to get as much of the story as you can? Or do you simply wander the rolling hills and try and absorb the world that your put in. The haunting synth soundtrack pulses calmly throughout this game giving it and it's simple artwork an intense mood for you to sit in.

    I love the idea of exploring narrative in less typical ways in video games. This brings back memories of the game Dear Esther (which is an incredible experience you should play if you get the opportunity) and provides something different and unique into your day.  It'll only take you 20 minutes and allow you to experience a somber narrative.

PLAY GAME HERE: TRIHAYWBFRFYH

Day 7 : Crash : VIDEO

Visual effects test I did with a friend of mine to practice motion tracking and familiarize myself with VideoCopilot's Element 3D plugin (fantastic tool). The project was motion tracked and composited in After Effects. The front of the car was replaced with a digital double , snow and an artificial sun was added, along with a smoke simulation for the fire.

Day 6 : Snow : PHOTO

I've always loved snow, especially when you see the light sparking off the individual flakes.

Day 5 : Deposite Logo : VIDEO

An experiment with a temporary logo design for a game me and a friend are working on.

Day 4 : Deer : PHOTO

Was going for a drive when I saw a few deer off the side of the road and decided to stop and see if I could grab a few pictures. 

Day 3 : Flight : PHOTO

Managed to catch a few birds flying by. Shot with 300mm lens and luckily managed to adjust my settings quick enough to avoid motion blur.

Day 2 : Kaleidoscope : VIDEO

Design - Kaleidascope Logo from Brandon Ballschmidt on Vimeo.

     Working out logo and title screen designs and wanted to try something shapely and modern in After Effects.  Also enjoying the practice of writing small little musical parts to accompany the logo.

     Transition created using a rather ingenious technique by the great people here: ae.tutsplus.com

Day 1 : Starting Something New : PHOTO

HDRI of a church nearby where I'm living.

      So I've made a decision. I've decided to my own 365 day project. While I suppose these typically start at the beginning of a new year mine gets to start here. My goal is for every single day of this year to post some piece of artwork that I've made. It could be photographs, music, 3D models, digital work, short films, anything as long as I put something new up every day. I'm hoping for this project to keep me motivated and productive along with just being able to have fun and learn a lot. If I miss any days, please feel free to yell at me until I make up for the lost day. Here's to creating.

Free Game Friday | HEXAGON

     From Terry Cavanagh we have HEXAGON. Here is a game that is able to channel the mind bending joyous frustration brought to us by his fantastic game VVVVVV in a completely new fashion. The actual gameplay is simple. Use the left and right arrow keys to move your little triangle around and dodge the incoming shapes. The art style is in simple shapes in colors that come at you in a dizzying pulsing array. But while the concept is simple, execution remains far from it. Be ready to die. A lot.

     This game will have you screaming with frustration at your many losses. But zero loading times, instant resets, and a kicking soundtrack all pull together to keep the losses from becoming too much. It feels challenging but never unfair or impossible. Each time you start over you get that feeling that you can make it just a little further. Let me tell you, finally reaching the one minute mark filled me with an absolute stand up and cheer sense of accomplishment. It's addictive, easy to pick up anytime and play at a moments notice for any amount of time, making it great for those small moments in between whatever productive things you're trying to accomplish.

     All in all a simple and great little game for you to play. Hexagon also did well enough to earn a full game release in "Super Hexagon" which you can purchase for a few dollars on either Android, IOS, or Steam.

PLAY GAME HERE: HEXAGON